Collapsible lantern



March 15, 1927. ,640

- I K. K. FRIE RICH COLLAPSIBLE LANTERN Filed March 1.0, 1926 zmzwyaww Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

KURT KARL rnrnnnrcn, or Annaisnno 1M Enz'e EB'IRe-ri, GERMANY.

oonnarsrnnn LANTERN.

Application filed March). 1928; sen al" No. 93i637, and in Germany May 23, 1925 I achieve' this by composing thelantern of a plurality of rows of hollow pyramids, preferably of square cross-section, each py ramid constituting oneof the rays of the star and being formed of triangular pieces of paper, cardboard. wood or the like, joined together in a. fold-able niainier so that each pyramid an. be folded down. The pyramids of each row are itoldably oined by their adjoining edges and each row of pyramids can therefore he formed into a circular girdle of rays. Twov superposed rows of pyramids are also folda-bly joined by their adjoining. edges so thatall the rows of pyrar mids form a single coherent collapsible body.

I further provide means for uniting the free ends of each row when unfoldingthe lantern, and for causing. part of the pyra mids 0r rows of pyramids to assume a position'enclosing a pointed angle with the ad jacent pyramid or. row of pyramids.

Some of thesemeans will be fully dedrawing forming part of this specification and illustratii'ig a lantern ei'nbodying my invention by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the unfolded lantern ready for use, while F ig. 2 shows the same in substantially folded condition ready for packing and shipping.

Fig. 3 is an end View showing the rows of pyramids as viewed from their bases, the pyramids being unfolded but not yet shaped into circular girdles of rays.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View illustrating the way in which the rows of pyramids shown in Fig. 3 are converted into circular girdles of rays.

Fig. 5 illustrates the way in which the bottom ray is mounted, while scribed with reference to the accompanying Fig. 6 discloses the manner of mounting and fixing the top ray.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the star-shaped lantern to be composed of a great number of square pyramids a, and Fig.

3 shows how these pyramids are arranged in three rows, each comprising eight pyramids a and a frustruin of a square pyra mid b at the end of each row,- this frustrum serving for uniting' the ends of: the rows whenforming the star.

Fig. 3 further shows that in the top and. bottom rows the outer triangular partiof each alternate pyramid is .formed withav diagonal fold allowing this part to be folded inwards so that the pyramids provided with the folds a can easily be transformed into triangular pyramids for the purpose hereinafter described.

It further shown in Fig. 3 that to the free bottom edge of the fifth pyramid from i the right in the top and bottom rows is o ned a separate pyramid, the one marked 9 being designed to form the bottom ray of the star and having joined to its free edges trustra' f of square pyramids adapted to be lfiSQI'fQtl inother pyramids of the same row The separate pyramid 2' joined to the free edge of the fifth pyramid from. the right innthe bottoin row is unfolded; entirely; To the free edges of the first,- third,, fifth and seventh pyramid from, the right in the bottom row are foldably joined flaps Z, a string (Z- is attached to the outer end. of each flap in the bottom corners of those parts of the pyramids of the outer rows which are divided by the d iagona'lfolds' a H g If it is desired to unfoldthe structure and to form it into a lantern enclosing an electric lamp, the folded rows of pyramids shown in Fig. 2 are first unfolded so as to present the end View shown in Fig. 3. The three superposed rows of pyramids are now formed into so many substantially circular girdles of pyramids, as shown in Fig. 4 and the frustrum Z) of a pyramid at the end of each row is inserted in the pyramid a at the other end of the same row. Now the bottom pyramid g is placed in position at right angles to the adjoining row of pyramids a the frustra f being inserted in the pyramids a of this row. N ow the two strings 72. of each pyramid of the row adjoining the bottom row 9 provided with a diagonal fold a are united into a loop and thesev pyramids are thereby imparted triangular shape, whereby this row of pyramids is reduced in diameter on its outside and is thereby forced to assume a position at a pointed angle to the middle row, as is shown in Fig. 6, where Z and strings 71; are also attached the structure is shown in upright position with the bottom pyramid 9 pointed downwards. In this position of the structure the incandescent lamp suspended from its 'conductors is introduced into the lantern and the top ray or pyramid i is now folded around the flaps Z, the strings d projecting from the point of the pyramid i, as shown in Fig. 1 and serving for suspending the lantern.

Obviously the invention is not restricted to the particular form of the star shown in the drawings, nor to a star composed of or containing square pyramids, and I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be lim ited to the exact details of construct-ion shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

1. Foldable illumination lantern comprising two rows of foldable pyramids, the pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges and the two rows being joined by their common edge, a frustrum of a pyramid at one end of each row and a foldable pyramid foldably joined to the free edge of one pyramid of each row.

2. Foldable illumination lantern comprising two rows of foldable square pyramids, the pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges and the two rows being joined by their common edge, a frustrum of a pyramid at one end of each row and a foldably square pyramid foldably joined to the free edge of one pyramid of each row. I

' 3. Foldable illumination lantern comprising two rows of foldable square pyramids, the pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges and the two rows being joined by their common edge, a frustrum of a pyramid at one end of each row and a foldable square pyramid foldably joined to the free edge of one pyramid of each row, one side of each alternate pyramid in each row having a middle fold allowing said pyramid to be formed into a triangular pyramid.

4E. Foldable illumination lantern comprising three rows of foldable square pyramids, adjoining rows and adjoining pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges, a foldable square pyramid foldably joined to one edge of a pyramid of each outer row and means for uniting the pyramids at the ends of each row and for fastening the free edges of the two pyramids joined to the outer rows.

5. Foldable illumination lantern comprising three rows of foldable square pyramids, adjoining rows and adjoining pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges, a foldable square pyramid foldably joined to one edge of a pyramid of each outer row and means for uniting the pyramids at the ends of each row and for fastening the free edges of the two pyramids joined to the outer rows, one side of each alternate pyramid in each outer row having a middle fold and a pair of strings allowing said pyramid to be formed into a triangular pyramid.

G. Foldable illumination lantern comprising two rows of foldable pyramids, the pyramids in each row being foldably joined by their adjoining edges and the two rows being joined by their common edge, a trusstrum of a pyramid at one end of each row, a foldable pyramid foldably oined to the free edge of one pyramid of each row and a flap at the free edge of some pyramid of an outer row.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KURT KARL FRIEDRICH. 

